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He closed the gap between them in two long strides and dragged her into his arms. “Not your fault,” he said simply. Then he caught her mouth in a goodbye kiss.
Chapter Twenty
The kiss between Lucas and Inda seemed to go on and on. Eventually, though, they had to come up for air, forced to breathe in the toxic poison slowly hissing through the vent above them.
Out of sight in the corner, Lucas pressed his forehead against hers and they held onto each other. “Thank you, Inda,” he whispered.
“For what?” Her voice cracked and tears filled her caramel-colored eyes. Tears and regret. “I failed you.”
“No,Onça. You made me fall in love.” He cupped her face, looking deeply into her eyes. Eyes that he could stare into forever. A tear slid down her cheek and he caught it with his thumb, brushing it away. “I fell head over heels with your nunchucks-swinging, rock-climbing, fearless, totally badass self.”
She choked on a sob. “I fell for you, too, Lucas.”
They held onto each other tightly, preparing for the worst, when Selma’s angry voice echoed through the speaker.
“What the hell is going on, Nathan?” she demanded.
Jumping apart, Lucas and Inda exchanged a confused look. “Why are we still alive?” he asked.
The loud hissing sound filled the room, but…it wasn’t coming into their lab.
“Oh, my God, it’s coming through the speaker,” Inda exclaimed. “It’s in Selma’s room!”
Lucas and Inda stayed low, but dared to look into the adjoining room where Selma faced the opposite window, hands on her hips.
“I don’t understand,” she cried, sounding completely shocked.
“I’m sorry, Selma,” Cross said, his voice cool and unapologetic, “but it never would’ve worked out between us.”
“Holy shit,” Lucas hissed. “He’s testing the Novichok onher.”
“But, I killed Marcus. So we could rule The Agency together.” Her voice hitched and she clutched at her throat, suddenly struggling to breathe.
“Only one of us can be in charge,” Cross stated. “And that, my dear, is me.”
Gasping, Selma collapsed to the floor, struggling to draw in air.
“Tell me what’s happening, Doctor.” Cross’ voice was eerily devoid of emotion. “I want a play by play.”
“Christ,” Lucas hissed. “It’s like he’s enjoying this. I thought they were lovers.”
“They were,” Inda confirmed, brow furrowed. “I guess he loves power more.”
Two rooms over, Dr. Zaitsev shifted, looking uncomfortable. “When Novichok enters your body, your muscles fail rather quickly. Like most nerve agents, it disrupts electrical signals from the brain to the muscles and the rest of the nervous system.”
Selma’s body began to thrash violently.
“She’s experiencing convulsions. Her muscles and heart are failing. She can’t breathe.”
Cross leaned closer to the glass, completely enthralled.
On the floor, Selma clawed at her throat then slumped sideways, going completely still.
Cross glanced down at his watch. “Two minutes, twenty-two seconds. Bravo, Doctor. I’d say that was quite a successful test.”
“Her corpse is quite toxic,” Dr. Zaitsev warned.
“I trust you will take care of it accordingly. I have things to do, but I’ll be in touch.” Turning, Cross began to walk away when Dr. Zaitsev stopped him.
